Frankfurter package unit and process for cooking frankfurters



June 7, 1960 J. s. RICHMAN FRANKFURTER PACKAGE UNIT AND PROCESS FORCOOKING FRANKFURTERS Filed May 2, 1956 INVENTOR. JACOB s. RIGHMAN m H. W

ATTORNEY United States Patent FRANKFURTER PACKAGE UNIT AND PROCES FORCOOKING FRANKFURTERS The present invention relates to a frankfurterpackage unit, and more particularly to a frankfurter package unit inwhich a novel form of frankfurter, preferably deposited within asuitable bun may be cooked, and to a process for cooking frankfurterswithin a package unit.

The dispensing of frankfuiters through vending nachines and the like haslong presented a difiicult problem, which until the advent of thepresent invention has not been satisfactorily resolved. Thus, thedispensing of cooked frankfurters from a vending machine requires thatthe frankfurter be heated from a refrigerated condition to a conditionin which it is palatable (such as to atemperature of the order of 160 F.or more) within a relatively short period of time, such as a period oftime of the order of fifteen or so seconds. Moreover, the frankfurter,and if a roll or bun is present, then the roll or bun also, must be keptabsolutely free from contamination with the outside or surroundingatmosphere.

This invention has an object the provision of a frankfurter package unitin which a frankfurter, and if desired, a roll or bun, may bepositioned, and may be cooked or heated to a palatable temperaturewithin a short period of time without exposure to contamination arisingfrom the surrounding atmosphere or environment.

The present invention has as another object the provision of anattractive and relatively inexpensive container for a frankfurter andbun or for other like comestibles.

This invention has as a dilferent object the provision of a process forthe cooking or heating of frankfurters or similar comestibles withoutexposing such frankfurters or comestibles to their environment.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in thedrawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood,however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frankfurter package unit of thepresent invention in which a frankfurter of the present invention and aroll are retained within a wrapper.

Figure 2 is a view of the wrapper portion of the frankfurter packageunit of the present invention in unrolled or open disposition.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the frankfurter and bun portion of thefrankfurter package unit of the presour invention.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing how a frankfurther of thepresent invention disposed within a bun and carried within thefranlcfurther package unit of the present invention may be readilycooked between electrodes without removal of the frankfurter from thepackage.

Referring to the drawings, the fraukfurter package unit of the presentinvention is designated by the numeral 110. Such frankfurter packageunit includes a folded sealed wrapper 12, a frankfurter 14, and mayinclude a conventional open-ended frankfmter bun 16. In addition2,939,793 Patented June.7, 1960 to the foregoing, additional elementsmay be present within the frankfurter package unit 10, such as anenvelope containing a condiment, such as mustard or ketchup, and/or apaper napkin.

In the illustrated embodiment the wrapper 12 comprises three elementssecuredly joined together, such elements being aluminum foil strips 18and 20 and intermediate plastic strip 22. As shown in the drawings, thealuminum foil strips 18 and 20 are bands of relatively thin elementalaluminum metal which are lappingly joined along one side portion thereofto a mating side portion of the plastic strip 22. Plastic strip 2-2 ispreferably formed from a flexible non-conducting plastic, such as forexample polyethylene or the like, and preferably is transparentpermitting visual observation of the frankfurter 14 and bun 16. Thesecurement of the aluminum foil strips 18 and 2 0 to the plastic strip22 may be accomplished by adhesives or by other means known to the art.a

In place of the illustrated embodiments, other securement arrangementsbetween the aluminum foil strips and the plastic st-rip are possible,namely securement arrangements wherein the plastic strip is in the formof a tongue and is sandwiched between the laminae of a laminatedaluminum foil. Where laminated aluminum foil is used,

, the adhesive, if any, joining the laminae should be a conductor.

The frankfurter '14 of the present invention should be in the form shownparticularly in Figure 3. Thus, the frankfurter 14 is a cylindricalsausage element whose ends 24 and 26 have been trimmed of the casing, ifpresent, and the derma or thickened outer portion of the frankfurter foran appreciable extent, such as of the order of one-half inch or so toexpose the pulp or inner meat portion of the frankfurter. While trimmingof the cylindrical surface formed about the longitudinal axis of thefrankfurter is not essential, but is preferable; himming of the dermafrom the ends generally normal to the longitudinal axis of thefrankfurter is essential to the frankfurter construction of the presentinvention. The portion of frankfurter 14 intermediate ends 24 and 26 isnot trimmed and may be provided with a casing, and is provided with thederma or relatively thick compressed or characteristic outer epithelialfrankfurter portion. Thus, by derma as used herein is meant the hardenedmeat portion of the frankfurter which forms beneath the casing duringthesmoking process in which the frankfurter is formed, and which remains ifthe casing is peeled off.

The bun 16 should be of substantially the same length or slightlyshorter than the frankfurter 14. The bun 16, as will be more fullyexplained hereinbelow, provides support for the frankfurter 14 when thelatter undergoes compression in being cooked in accordance with theprocess of the present invention.

In the assembled package unit 10 the wrapper 12 encompasses thefrankfurter 14 and bun 16 with the ends 24 and 26 of the frankfurter '14juxtaposed to their re spective adjacent aluminum foil strips 18 and 20,while the aluminum foil strips 18 and 20 are in non-conductingrelationship in respect to each other, being separated by the plasticstrip 22. The aluminum foil strips 18 and 20 of the package unit 10 maybe sealed or closed by the use of heat and/or adhesives or by othermeans readily understood by one skilled in the art.

The cooking of frankfurter 14, which may be in a refrigerated state, asat a temperature of about 40 F., is accomplished by placing thefrankfurter package unit 10 between electrodes 28 and 30 in the mannershown in Figure 4 and applying to the electrodes an inwardly directedforce (in the direction of the arrows shown in 'Figure 4. Theapplication of such force axially compresses the frankfurter" 14, thebun 16 acting as a rein- 4' forcement or support therefor during suchcompression. When electrical current is passed between electrodes 28 and30, such current passes through the aluminum foil strips 18 and 20 andthence through the trimmed ends 24am 26 of frankfurter 14. Inasmuch asplastic strip 22 is a non-conductor, theflowof current through it oralong its surface is obviated.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to therappended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

I claim:

7 -l. A frankfu-rter package unit comprising a frankfurter axiallyconfined in a wrapperysaid frankfurter having its pulp portion exposedat both ends at right angles to its longitudinal axis within saidwrapper, said wrapper consisting of scaled end portions formed of aflexible metallic conducting material secured at opposite end portionsto a central non-conducting wrapper material, the trimmed ends of the'frankfurter being juxtaposed to the sealed metallic conductor ends ofthe wrapper whereby said franlcfurter may be cooked without removal fromsaid wrapper by insertion ofthe entire package intermediate a pair ofelectrodes and applying electrical current through the electrodes insufficient amount to heat the frankfurter without the electrodesperforating said Wrapper.

portionatthe ends of the frankfurter'with the ends separated -by anon-conductor, inserting said wrapper and frankfurter intermediate apair of electrodes with the conducting ends of said wrapper beingjuxtaposed to said electrodes, actually compressing said frankfurterwhile it is positioned between said electrodes by inwardly moving atleast one of the electrodes without perforating said wrapper, andapplying electrical current through the electrodes in suflicient amountto heat the frankfurter.

4. The process of heating a cold f-rankfu-rter without the exposure ofsuch frankfurter to the atmosphere which comprises axially confining acold frankfurter having its pulp portion exposed at both ends at rightangles to its longitudinal axis within a longitudinal wrapper having 2.A frankfurter package unit in accordance with claim 1 in which theflexible metallic conducting material at the sealed end portions of thewrapper comprises aluminum foil, and the central non-conducting wrappermaterial comprises a transparentplastic.

3. The process-of heating a cold frankfurter having its pulp portionexposed at both ends at right angles to its longitudinal axis whichcomprises positioning a cold frankfiirter contained within a wrapperhaving conducting elements at both ends juxtaposed to the exposed pulpReferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS452,109 Maloney May 12, 1891- 1,009,953 Boyle Nov. 28, '1911 1,706,225Goldberg et al. Mar. 19, 1929 1,892,254 Schrnitt Dec. 27, 1932 2,139,690McConnell et a1 2 Dec. 13, 1938 2,182,211 Paddock Dec. 5, 1939 2,390,277Simpkins Dec. 4, 1945 2,474,390

Alf u June 28, 1949 AAA J

1. A FRANKFURTER PACKAGE UNIT COMPRISING A FRANKFURTER AXIALLY CONFINEDIN A WRAPPER, SAID FRANKFURTER HAVING ITS PULP PORTION EXPOSED AT BOTHENDS AT RIGHT ANGLES TO ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS WITHIN SAID WRAPPER, SAIDWRAPPER CONSISTING OF SEALED END PORTIONS FORMED OF A FLEXIBLE METALLICCONDUCTING MATERIAL SECURED AT OPPOSITE END PORTIONS TO A CENTRALNON-CONDUCTING WRAPPER MATERIAL, THE TRIMMED ENDS OF THE FRANKFURTERBEING JUXTAPOSED TO THE SEALED METALLIC CONDUCTOR ENDS OF THE WRAPPERWHEREBY SAID FRANKFURTER MAY BE COOKED WITHOUT REMOVAL FROM SAID WRAPPERBY INSERTION OF THE ENTIRE PACKAGE INTERMEDIATE A PAIR OF ELECTRODES ANDAPPLYING ELECTRICAL CURRENT THROUGH THE ELECTRODES IN SUFFICIENT AMOUNTTO HEAT THE FRANKFURTER WITHOUT THE ELECTRODES PERFORATING SAID WRAPPER.